68 R/T Restoration

[MxRacer855]

Gorgeous Mike!

[tsmithae]

That's one nice looking grill, well done!

[xs29bb1]

Figured I'd send an update - the exhaust is in...

[VTMopar]

Hello.   Terrific job!     I'm just starting a similar build on my 68, so finding this thread is very timely!       I saw that earlier you mentioned you were going to look for redlines.... 275 x 15.    I've had the same idea, but haven't been successful in locating any.    If you find a source, would you please let me know?    I'll do the same.....

 

Vt Mopar

[xs29bb1]

Hello.   Terrific job!     I'm just starting a similar build on my 68, so finding this thread is very timely!       I saw that earlier you mentioned you were going to look for redlines.... 275 x 15.    I've had the same idea, but haven't been successful in locating any.    If you find a source, would you please let me know?    I'll do the same.....

 

Vt Mopar

Coker has redlines but the max width is 235 I believe.  I'm probably going to go w/ Diamondback.  What they do is take new radials (so you can get 275s if you want) and essentially add the redline to the tire. 

Here's the site:  http://www.dbtires.com/

[VTMopar]

   I checked with Coker and got the same info.   Thanks for the tip on Diamondback!     

Are you going with the red bumblebee stripe?      We may have twins when done, although mine is a 4 speed/Dana, in the tear down phase now but I hope to be driving it this summer.    I'll start a thread  later as it moves along....

Vt Mopar

[xs29bb1]

   I checked with Coker and got the same info.   Thanks for the tip on Diamondback!     

Are you going with the red bumblebee stripe?      We may have twins when done, although mine is a 4 speed/Dana, in the tear down phase now but I hope to be driving it this summer.    I'll start a thread  later as it moves along....

Vt Mopar

I'm basically doing mine as close to the way she came out of the factory as possible.  It was originally a triple black R/T w/ a red bumblebee stripe, redlines, 440 auto w/ the console. 

What's the story on yours?   

[MxRacer855]

Mike, is the trans painted? I can't remember from previous posts. It has a super clean look to it. I'm rebuilding my 727 right now and it's a little stained/dirty.

Jeff

[VTMopar]

Mine is an original RT, with the 833 4 speed and a Dana rear.    I do not have the original motor, but I'm searching as there is a small chance I may locate it (which would be terrific).   Originally green with black interior, it was painted yellow many years ago.   She's now in for a complete resto and I'm going Triple Black.  She will need some metal and I'm putting in a complete new interior, including a console (she has the buddy seat now) so I know what you mean about the cost of console items.    All I can say is shop around and wait for sales.   Im spending hours on line shopping for parts and like Like you, I'm emptying the piggy bank on this project, but she's going to be very nice when done.   

I'm using mostly new, but looking to see if I might pick up a grill.  Mine has a few issues, with a broken outer edge.   It's repairable, but.....   

As I indicated, I plan on going with the redlined tires, but haven't yet decided on the red bumblebee stripe.   I've seen some black chargers without, and I kind of like that look (my resto guy is polite, but I think he disagrees with me,).  We'll see.....

I may have missed it.... Did you upgrade your front disks to the later model type?   I'm looking for rotors for mine, but I understand they aren't readily available and I may just have to upgrade instead.   

Vt Mopar

[xs29bb1]

Mike, is the trans painted? I can't remember from previous posts. It has a super clean look to it. I'm rebuilding my 727 right now and it's a little stained/dirty.

Jeff

Yes the trans is painted grey - I know that's not the way they were originally, but at least this way I won't have any rust issues.

[xs29bb1]

Mine is an original RT, with the 833 4 speed and a Dana rear.    I do not have the original motor, but I'm searching as there is a small chance I may locate it (which would be terrific).   Originally green with black interior, it was painted yellow many years ago.   She's now in for a complete resto and I'm going Triple Black.  She will need some metal and I'm putting in a complete new interior, including a console (she has the buddy seat now) so I know what you mean about the cost of console items.    All I can say is shop around and wait for sales.   Im spending hours on line shopping for parts and like Like you, I'm emptying the piggy bank on this project, but she's going to be very nice when done.   

I'm using mostly new, but looking to see if I might pick up a grill.  Mine has a few issues, with a broken outer edge.   It's repairable, but.....   

As I indicated, I plan on going with the redlined tires, but haven't yet decided on the red bumblebee stripe.   I've seen some black chargers without, and I kind of like that look (my resto guy is polite, but I think he disagrees with me,).  We'll see.....

I may have missed it.... Did you upgrade your front disks to the later model type?   I'm looking for rotors for mine, but I understand they aren't readily available and I may just have to upgrade instead.   

Vt Mopar

Great, can't wait to see pics!   

We made one grill out of two (where one of them was pretty damn good to start with)  Once the necessary pieces were plastic welded in and sanded the whole thing was shot silver, then masked off and shot w/ the black.

For the console top, we decided NOT to use a new piece from Year One or wherever because according to one of the guys, they look "too new" and so not quite right.  We may be re-dipping the top pieces and going from there - not 100% sure yet.

For the brakes, no they're not the original.  I wanted to make sure the stopping power was better, so it's a disk brake conversion kit.

Obviously the stripe is a personal preference thing - my car had a red stripe originally, so it was a no-brainer for me.  One thing I will say though, that trunk is really long... breaking it up w/ a stripe might be nice.  Then again, a black R/T with stripe delete is pretty badass!

[VTMopar]

Mike.   What brake conversion kit did you go with?

I agree about the stripe; it's an easy (and inexpensive) add if I change my mind.  

I fully appreciate your keeping your Charger "correct"to its DNA.    I'm fortunate to have a couple of Challengers that I've done in the same manner, including one which is a 46,000 mile original.    For me, I've decided to maintain the stock look on this Charger, but with a few deviations to make it "mine" that can always be reversed.  

Like I'm also thinking real hard about the motor color.    While I know it's incorrect for a 68, I'm quite partial to a clean, detailed engine bay with a 440 painted Hemi orange, and I can easily visualize it with the black paint.    My 70 Challenger has a 440 six pack (in Hemi orange) and my 74 C Rallye has a 360 in blue - so it's easy for me to see the difference!    Now, if I should be so lucky as to find the original block for the Charger, then I would probably stay with blue.......

At some point it might be interesting to compare detailed notes on our respective restorations......

Doug
Vt Mopar

[MxRacer855]

Figured I'd send an update - the exhaust is in...

Hey guys, kind of a silly question, but on that bottom pic of Mike's Charger (the one showing the exhaust tip), there's that curved metal piece held on to the frame rail by 2 bolts...

1) Is that piece tack welded in at all?
and
2) Are there nuts on those bolts between the frame rail and the trunk floor?

I'm powdercoating all of the removable pieces on the bottom of my '68 and the bolts just don't want to come out. They're loose at first but then get tight really fast. Either there is rust and corrosion on them, or something on the inside is preventing them from coming out. Either way I don't want the bolt to break (especially if there's a nut requiring you to access the setup through the trunk floor).

Thanks

Jeff

[tsmithae]

The piece isn't tack welded in and there are no conventional nuts, just blind nuts that are supposed to be welded to the inside of the frame rail.   Hopefully yours is just a rusty bolt and not a broken nut. 

[Hard Charger]

Figured I'd send an update - the exhaust is in...

Hey guys, kind of a silly question, but on that bottom pic of Mike's Charger (the one showing the exhaust tip), there's that curved metal piece held on to the frame rail by 2 bolts...

1) Is that piece tack welded in at all?
and
2) Are there nuts on those bolts between the frame rail and the trunk floor?

the curved piece is a plate that bolts to the frame and also takes the bolt from the bumperette. I believe the plate is a hold down of sorts for shipping.

the 2 bolts showing go to a nut inside the frame. there is no access to this space were the nut is in an assembled and completed car. there are 2 small rectangular holes on the side of the frame that you could possibly wedge a screw driver in to try to hold the nut. I had cut the bolt and welded a flange nut to the bottom of the frame.

I'm powdercoating all of the removable pieces on the bottom of my '68 and the bolts just don't want to come out. They're loose at first but then get tight really fast. Either there is rust and corrosion on them, or something on the inside is preventing them from coming out. Either way I don't want the bolt to break (especially if there's a nut requiring you to access the setup through the trunk floor).

Thanks

Jeff

[MxRacer855]

The piece isn't tack welded in and there are no conventional nuts, just blind nuts that are supposed to be welded to the inside of the frame rail.   Hopefully yours is just a rusty bolt and not a broken nut. 

tsmithae, I was able to get both pieces off with only one bolt breaking. There is a good amount of dirt in the frame rail...

Both pieces are sand blasted, but look a little thin from rust and corrosion. I've looked around a little bit and can't seem to find them. Does anyone know what they are called and if you can replace them?

Thanks

Jeff

[fy469rtse]

Mike, is the trans painted? I can't remember from previous posts. It has a super clean look to it. I'm rebuilding my 727 right now and it's a little stained/dirty.

Jeff

look up hydro blasting , my case was done and it removed all the crud and staining, I think there's some photos on my thread, it's also like shot preening as well , resistant to new stains as well , looks like I had it jet hot coated , wasn't expensive either

[MxRacer855]

Thanks! I'll check it out. I'm looking to have something done just like that. Resistant to the elements and staining again, while looking amazing.

Jeff

[Bob T]

Just to backtrack a bit XS, I have a pic of the console nuts, not so great , only a phone pic, however - my toolmaker matecut off the existing acorn nut weird thread and tapped a super small metric hole into the existing substrate and made a transition metric to 3/16 stud and loctited it in place. Then I was able to buy 3/16 standard acorn nuts which look reasonably stock at first glance. It was a hug improvement from how it was at the start with none of the nuts actually capturing the thread and the lid sitting at a crook angle.

[xs29bb1]

I've got a few updates.  Here's the AC condenser and the heater box

[xs29bb1]

Here's the horns, voltage regulator and the NOS locking gas cap.

[Ghoste]

I note it says "GAS" on the key.

[Homerr]

On one side, apparently.

[xs29bb1]

Here's a few more:  Restored radio bezel, upper door pad emblems, and the Charger logo now on the grill

[xs29bb1]

And here's a before and after on the center vents